Roofing



H. L. GUY

April 14, 1936.

ROOFING Filed Nov. 15, 1934 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,937,163 ROOFING m L. Gay, Chicago, n1.

Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753,178

9 Claims. (Cl. 108-33) This invention relates to roof coverings, and among other objects aims to improve the protective efficiency of roofing by means which do not require alteration of standard practices.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to illustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompamring drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a roof covering formed of a series of overlapping courses of shingle units designed to present hexagonal shingle outlines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a roof covering formed of shingle units presenting the outlines of the conventional square butt shingles;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the manner of fastening the lower free edges of the shingle tabs;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet metal clip employed to fasten down the free edges of shingle tabs;

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the lower portion of a shingle tab partially pierced to facilitate the application of the fastened clip; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a series of flat blanks from which the clips are formed and illustrating how the design of the clip facilitates cutting of the same from sheet metal without waste.

The invention is here shown embodied in roof.

coverings comprising a series of overlapping courses of asphalt coated shingle units. Such units generally comprise a waterproofed so-called felt body Ill having an upper coating of heavy asphalt Ii in which is embedded a mineral surfacing l2 such as particles of crushed colored slate or the like. The flexibility of the material makes it diflicult to employ in large sized units (presenting the appearance of large individual shingles) because of the tendency of the lower ends of the shingle units or tabs to curl up or be blown up. Large sized units not only promote economy in the use of roofing material, but they more nearly simulate the more expensive rigid roofing units such as slate etc. which are and can be laid with large exposed areas. Because of the flexibility of the material, it is desirable to fasten down the lower ends of the exposed shingle tabs in a manner which does not impair the efiiciency of roofing and preferably which does not require any alteration in existing practices. While it has been proposed to interlock the lower edges of shingles to prevent the curling or blowing up of exposed shingle tabs; this practice not only produces an objectionable alteration in the appearance of the shingle outlines, but complicates and changesthe method of laying to such an extent as to make it impracticable for use by any but specially skilled and instructed workmen. Furthermore the buckling and wrinkling usually present at points of interlock are magnified to such an extent in heavier grades of roofing as to make interlocking heavier shingles entirely impractical or impossible.

According to the present invention, shingle units may be made in standard shapes and sizes without alteration of existing practices. At the points of registry between the top and next underlying course of shingle units, a clip formed in this instance from sheet metal pierces the overlying units and is attached to the underlying unit (which is nailed down adjacent the point of attachment), thereby firmly fastening down the lower free edge of the shingle tabs. The illustrative clip comprises a thin sheet metal body 13 bent transverselyto provide a transverse channel H of a width sufficient to embrace an edge of the shingle unit. Extending upwardlyfrom one inner edge of the channel is a bendable prong l5 adapted to pierce the upper or top shingle unit and thereafter to-be bent down upon the same as at IS in Fig. 3. Preferably the prong I5 is barbed as at I! to prevent its withdrawal from the upper shingle unit. Also preferably an inwardly extending sharp tongue or tongues l8 are struck up from the lower side of the channel and project inwardly and towards the bottom of the channel.

The clip is applied by slipping the channel thereof at the proper or desired point over the edge of the underlying unit and causing the prong l5 to penetrate the overlying shingle unit or tab at a point closely adjacent its lower free edge. The sequence of application is not fixedthe clips may be applied as the courses of roofing are laid or afterwards, as convenience dictates. When the clips are applied on steep roofs or on vertical surfaces, the tongues [8 hold the clip in place after its application and until prong l5 has been passed through the overlying unit and the latter nailed down. After application the prongs may be bent down easily by hand, thus avoiding the use of a hammer blow which would frequently shear the underlying unit particularly where the units are being laid over an old roofing and the hammer blow falls at the edge of one of the old shingles. The latter would act as a shear to sever the new unit and thus cause a leak at this point. Imperfect or neglected fastenings are avoided since the clip prong is visible and when bent down, a proper fastening is assured.

In the drawing is illustrated two conventional arrangements of shingle units. In Fig. 1 is represented a series of overlapping courses I9, 29 and 2| of shingle units 22. The latter in this case present spaced projecting semi-hexagonal shingle tabs 23 which when arranged in staggered courses with the lower edge 24 of the tabs of the overlying course in registry with the bases 25 of the spaces between the tabs of the next underlying course, present hexagonal shingle outlines 26. Adjacent each of the points of registry 21 (i. e. where the lower end of the shingle tab 24 registers with the bases 25 of the underlying course), the channel portion of a clip |3 may be applied to embrace the underlying shingle unit and the prong l5 caused to pentrate the overlying shingle tab 23 adjacent its lower edge.

The application .of the clips does not require any modification of the existing practices of nailing or applying the shingle units. In such practice, nails 28 are driven through what becomes an underlying portion of a unit. Such nails penetrate the bottom unit 29 (Fig. 3), the units being of a depth sufficient to underlie a portion of the second course above (see Fig. 1). Therefore three layers of roofing occur atthe points offastening. Preferably at joints 30 between adjacent units, nails 28 are driven through each of the units adjacent such joint.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated the manner of applying the clips to shingle units 3| presenting the'conventional square butt outline. The units here i shown, each comprise a pair of spaced rectangular shingletabs 32.. The upper portion of the units opposite the shingle tabs is of sufilcient depth as shown at 34 to underlie the second course above at the point of attachment. When laid in staggered overlapping courses, the lower edges 35 of the shingle tabs 32 register with the bottoms 36 of the space's3l between the adjacent tabs of the, next lower course. The spaces or notches 31 are sufficiently wide to permit the application of roofing clips in the manner described above. As shown in Fig. 2, fastening nails 38 are driven .through the underlying courses just above the bottoms of the notches 3'|.

The clips are preferably tapered in form so as to provide a wide base 40 which will extend adequately on opposite. sides of a joint 30 between adjacent units, each ofwhich is preferably nailed at closely adjacent points. The length thus given to the-channel of the clip causes it fully to cover the bottom of the joint 30 and whatwould otherwise .bethe exposed end of the shingle units, thereby acting as a stop to prevent rain from being blown up into the joint feature oh -v via'tes'thQ necessity of offsetting the side edges of 'the shingle to provide rain or wind stops.

j To 5 facilitate the penetration of the. overlying courses by the clip prongs, the shin'gle units may advantageously, be 'pamany pierced during for,- mationl As here shown,'the,.unit,s are pierced to'provide'jslots'39 which preferably penetrate only the felt bas'e l0 and do not extend through themineral surfacing l2. "The sl'otsare'therefore riot'visible from the exterior and will remain invisible, unless and until the roofing is pierced by a'clip. In particular cases where a clip should not be necessary, theunit will vvnot reveal the existence of the slot 39. Such, slots are, preferably V-sha ped' (to facilitate entry of.the prong).

and formed at the same time the units are out from, the sheet roofing ,y the conventional fro;-

tary cutter rolls. The slot cutting edges (which are wedge-shaped to form V-shaped slots) are made short enough so as not to penetrate the top mineral layer and are simply located at appropriate points on the cutter roll. The slots should of course be spaced a distance above the bottom of the shingle tab equivalent to the depth of the channel of the clip so that the base of such channel will fit snugly at each of the underlying shingle .units when the prong of the clip is in registry with the slot. The sharp point of the prong readily penetrates the asphalt and mineral surfacing of the unit.

' If applied on laying each course of units, the clip prongs will serve accurately to' register the units of the next course. The V-shaped slots in the under facesof the unit assist in locating the unit in registry with the prongs. The prong thus automatically penetrates the unit as it is laid in place. Being of thin sheet metal, the prong may then be bent over easily by the thumb or finger. Notwithstanding the ready flexibility of the clip, the barbs I! on the prong effectively prevent its withdrawal.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the roofing clip may advantageously be cut without waste from sheet material. The body of the clip being tapered as aforesaid, the clips are arranged alternately, i. e. base to prong. The barbs H on the prong are provided by material removed from the bases of adjacent clips, thus leaving notches 4| in opposite sides ofeach of the clips. Such notches are not objectionable.

The clips may therefore be stamped from sheet material by any appropriate apparatus without production of waste. At the time the clip blanksv are formed, the tongues H! are preferably struck up. Thereafter the clips are bent into channel form and the prong bent into upstanding position as shown in Fig. 4.

Preferably the clips are formed of non-corrosive sheet material such as copper, zinc etc. or from some sheet-material having a protective coating such as cadmium plating. The material may be of extremely thin gauge particularly since the barbed prong on the clip and the tongues 3 would prevent straightening out of the clip (in order toraise the shingle tab) so long as the underlying shingle unit were nailed down adjacent the clip. Sheet copper of thirty gauge is of more than ample stifiness for clips ,of this character.

' Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative construction since these may be variously modified. Moreover it is not indispensable that all. features. of the invention be used conjointlysince various features maybe used toadvantage in different combinations and subcombinations. i I

Having described my invention,-I claim:

1. A-roofing-clip comprisingincombination a V-shaped body adaptedto slip over the end of a shingle unit, andabendable" prong projecting laterally from said body and adapted to \pen'etrate an overlying unit and to be bent down'upon' thesame.-- 2 A shingle unit formedof flexible roofing material having a granular coating and having adjacent the butt of said shingle a partially formed v-shapedslot in its under face, saidslot 'extending to but not penetrating said coating.

1 3.. Roofing of the character described'c'omprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible: shingle units arrangedwith a portionof. the loweredges ofthe upper course of units in substantial register with a portion of the edges of the underlying course, said shingle units being of a depth suflicient to underlie the second course above and thereby provide three thicknesses of shingle units at the aforesaid points oi. registry, and bendable sheet metal clips each having a U-shaped portion which embraces without piercing the registering portion of the edge of the underlying unit and a bendable prong which penetrates and is bent down upon the overlying unit adjacent the point of registry.

4. Roofing of the character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible shingle units arranged so that a top course of units has points of registry with the next underlying course of shingle units, bendable sheet metal clips each having a channel portion which fits over the underlying unit-and lies below the overlying unit at a point of registry, and a bendable prong penetrating the overlying unit above such point of registry, said prong being bent down upon the top course of units.

5. A roofing clip comprising in combination an elongated sheet metal body bent transversely to provide a channel whose width 'is substantially that of the thickness of a shingle unit, and a bendable prong extending upwardly from a free edge of said channel and adapted to penetrate an overlying roofing unit and to be bent down upon said overlying unit.

6. A roofing clip comprising in combination an elongated sheet metal body bent transversely to provide a channel adapted to fit over the edge of a shingle unit, and a bendable prong extending upwardly from a free edge of the channel and adapted to penetrate an overlying roofing unit and to be bent down upon said overlying unit, said prong having a barbed end to prevent its withdrawal from the overlying unit.

7. A roofing clip comprising in combination an elongated sheet metal body having tapering sides,

the width of the narrow end of said body being I laterally extending barb, the wider portion of said body being bent into a channel shape with the narrower portion projecting upwardly from a free edge of the channel.

8. Roofing ofthe character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of shingle units arranged with a portion of the lower edges of the upper course of units in substantial register with a portion of the edges of the underlying course, said shingle units being of a depth suflicient to underlie'the second course above and thereby provide three thicknesses of shingle units at the aforesaid points of registry, the overlying units having slots in their under faces adjacent and above the points of registry, and bendable sheet metal clips embracing without pierclngthe registering portion of the edge of theunderlying unit and having prongs passing through the slots in said overlying units.

9. Roofing of the character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of shingle units arranged so that a top course of units has points of registry with the next underlying course of shingle units, the top course of units having slots in their underffaces adjacent the points of registry, said slots terminating short of the top surface of the unit so as not to be visible, and bendable sheet metal clips having channel portions which fit over the underlying units and below the overlying units at such points of registry and having a bendable prong passing through the slots in the top course and being bent down thereon.

HARRY L. GUY. 

